Silent auction eggs fetch $70

The Firefighter’s Ball is once again a huge success. Drawing over 250 elegantly dressed people to the Delta Sun Peaks Resort, the event brought in a record amount of $26,000 through the live and silent auctions.

The silent auction featured a whole gamut of items from snowboard goggles to designer sunglasses and power tools. Among the Lululemon yoga bag and restaurant gift certificates, one unique auction item stood out from the rest—a dozen and a half eggs put up for auction by an eight-year-old girl.

The donor, eight-year-old Halle Smith from Barriere, is one of Sun Peaks Alpine Club’s ski racers. She got her first five chickens last year and has now grown her flock to 10 free ranging hens and two roosters.

“She tends to her chickens at least twice a day. She provides our family with eggs and the school secretary at the Barriere Elementary school is her only weekly paying customer ($3/dozen delivered),” said mom Maureen Smith.

When Halle heard that the Firefighter’s Ball would benefit the Sun Peaks Alpine Club, she asked if she could donate her hen’s eggs. She has previously donated her eggs as a prize at a 4H event.
Maureen contacted Lisa Smillie of the Sun Peaks Alpine Club who thought it was a great idea.

“She is a generous soul to have even thought to want to contribute in this way!” said Smillie.

At the gala, the Smiths watched eagerly as one bid after another was made for the popular eggs.

“We were excited when they were at $25,” said Maureen. “As soon as Halle woke up the next morning we told her that her eggs sold for $70—she was shocked and very proud of her hens!”

“By Monday, the business girl in Halle took over her philanthropist side when she went to school and told the school secretary (her only weekly paying customer) that her eggs have a new price and are now worth $70/dozen and a half! Of course, Halle told the school secretary with a big smile and said she was just joking and is more than happy to resume selling her eggs for three dollars a dozen, delivered.”

Who won the premium eggs? “Jeff and Melissa Arnold purchased Halle’s eggs,” said Smillie. “They are Sun Peaks Alpine Club parents. They have a daughter Myka Jardine-Arnold that’s an E2 ski racer.”

Proceeds of the gala will benefit the Sun Peaks Alpine Club and the Sun Peaks Education Society.

“I’d like to thank everyone who helped to donate to make the event a record setting success,” said Daimion Applegath, president of the Sun Peaks Alpine Club. The local kids are very appreciative of everyone’s support and will enjoy the benefits of this event for years to come.”

“It was an incredible evening. It was great to see such community support for the event,” said Maria Cannon, Sun Peaks Education Society Chair. “It was for us a hugely important fundraiser”.